Toilet seat

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a toilet seat that includes a top surface to support the user&#39;s body; a bottom surface designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support; and a lifter attached to the bottom surface for raising the toilet seat directly vertically above the toilet bowl and for tilting the toilet seat such that a rear portion of the toilet seat assumes a vertically higher position than front portion of the toilet seat while remaining above the toilet bowl, wherein the lifter is structured to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position; and a handle attached to the toilet seat for manually moving the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally related to toilet seat, and in particular, to an improved toilet seat.

The urinary system, also known as the renal system or urinary tract, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood pH. The urinary tract is the body's drainage system for the eventual removal of urine. The kidneys have an extensive blood supply via the renal arteries which leave the kidneys via the renal vein.

Following filtration of blood and further processing, wastes (in the form of urine) exit the kidney via the ureters, tubes made of smooth muscle fibres that propel urine towards the urinary bladder, where it is stored and subsequently expelled from the body by urination. The female and male urinary system are very similar, differing only in the length of the urethra. Urine is formed in the kidneys through a filtration of blood. The urine is then passed through the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored. During urination, the urine is passed from the bladder through the tubes made of smooth muscles around the bladder to the outside of the body.

Therefore, relaxing the muscles around the bladder will make it easier to empty the bladder. Similarly, during the motion of the digestive system to force waste matters out of the bowels into the rectum, the muscles of the rectum are induced to make a reactive contracting and the muscle of the anus is relaxed. Thus, relaxing the muscles of the anus will also make it easier to apply a pressure to the rectum to force waste matters out of the anus.

However, when the user sits on a regular toilet seat, the muscles of the bladder are in a contracted status, and the user is difficult to apply a pressure to the muscles of the bladder to squeeze urine out of the bladder. Because such regular toilet seat is kept in horizontal, the user would have difficulty applying a pressure to the muscles of the bladder.

A solution is to change the user's position in a half-squatting position such that the muscles of the bladder are relaxed, and the user can easily apply a pressure to the muscles of the bladder. Similarly, such half-squatting position also enables the user to easily apply a pressure to the rectum to force waster matter out of the anus by relaxing the muscles of the abdomen and the anus. However, the regular toilet seat cannot support such half-squatting position because the regular toilet seat is kept in horizontal. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved toilet seat that can support such half-squatting position to let the user easily apply a pressure to the muscles of the bladder to squeeze urine out of the bladder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a toilet seat that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. In one aspect, the present invention provides a toilet seat having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lifter and a handle. The top surface is to support the user's body. The bottom surface is designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support. The lifter is attached to the bottom surface for raising the toilet seat directly vertically above the toilet bowl and for tilting the toilet seat such that a rear portion of the toilet seat assumes a vertically higher position than front portion of the toilet seat while remaining above the toilet bowl. The lifter is structured to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position. The handle attached to the toilet seat for manually moving the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a toilet seat having a top surface, a bottom surface, a support. The top surface is to support the user's body. The bottom surface is designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support. The support is attached to the bottom surface in a downwardly forwards extending sloping position. The support slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.

In further aspect, the present invention provides a toilet seat having a top surface, a bottom surface, a lifter and a gear assembly. The top surface is to support the user's body. The bottom surface is designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support. The lifter is attached to the bottom surface for raising the toilet seat directly vertically above the toilet bowl and for tilting the toilet seat such that a rear portion of the toilet seat assumes a vertically higher position than front portion of the toilet seat while remaining above the toilet bowl. The lifter is structured to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position. The gear assembly is attached to the lifter. The gear assembly is cooperatively structured with the lifter to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of a toilet seat, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a side view of a toilet seat, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate an exploded side view of a lifter, a gear assembly and a drive motor of a toilet seat, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of a toilet seat 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate a side view of a toilet seat 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 2A and 2B, the toilet seat 100 includes a top surface 110, a bottom surface 120, a lifter 130, a drive motor 140 and a handle 230. The top surface 110 to support the user's body has a upper rear surface area 150 for supportive engagement with the user's pelvis, two upper side surface areas 160 extending forwardly upper the rear surface area 150 for supportive engagement with the user's buttocks and two generally flat horizontal upper front surface areas 170 extending forwardly and inwardly from the side surface areas 160 for supportive engagement with the user's thighs. The top surface 110 has a smoothly curved surface fitting the shape of the hips of a person. The bottom surface 120 is designed to rest on a toilet bowl 180 for support. The lifter 130 is attached to the bottom surface 120 for raising the toilet seat 100 directly vertically above the toilet bowl 180 and for tilting the toilet seat 100 such that a rear portion 190 of the toilet seat 100 assumes a vertically higher position than front portion 200 of the toilet seat 100 while remaining above the toilet bowl 180. The lifter 130 is structured to move the toilet seat 100 into the vertically higher position. The handle 230 is attached to the toilet seat 100 for manually moving the toilet seat 100 into the vertically higher position. The toilet seat 100 slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate an exploded side view of a lifter 130, a gear assembly 210 and a drive motor 140 of a toilet seat 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the drive motor 140 is attached to the lifter 130. The drive motor 140 is electrically powered and cooperatively structured with the lifter 130 to move the toilet seat 100 into the vertically higher position when the drive motor 140 is activated. The drive motor 140 is reversible. The drive motor 140 may assume a significantly small and compact size. As such, the drive motor 140 is dimensioned to be at least partially mounted with the lifter 130.

The gear assembly 210 attached to the lifter 130 is disposed between the bottom surface 120 of the toilet seat 100 and the toilet bowl 180 for moving the toilet seat 100 in the vertically higher position. The bottom portion of the gear assembly 210 is connected to the toilet bowl 180 and the upper portion of the gear assembly 210 is connected to the bottom surface 120 of the toilet seat 100. The gear assembly 210 serves to interconnect the driver motor 140 to a drive shaft 220 for raising the toilet seat 100. Accordingly, the gear assembly 140 is cooperatively structured with the lifter 130 and the drive motor 210 to move the toilet seat 100 into the vertically higher position when the drive motor 140 is activated. Both the drive motor 140 and gear assembly 210 are positioned substantially within the interior of the lifter 130.

It is recognized that any equivalent manually operable mechanisms, such as rack and pinion assemblies, rotatable screw shaft assemblies or rigid support can be employed in place of the gear assembly and the drive motor for raising the toilet seat into the vertically higher position described above.

Referring to FIGS. 2B and 2C, a support 230 is attached to the bottom surface 120 of the toilet seat 100 in a downwardly forwards extending sloping position. The support 230 slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive. The support 230 is disposed between the bottom surface 120 of the toilet seat 100 and the toilet bowl 180 to maintain the toilet seat 100 in the vertically higher position. The bottom portion of the support 230 is connected to the toilet bowl 180 and the upper portion of the support 230 is connected to the bottom surface 120 of the toilet seat 100. The support 230 can be constructed from rigid material such as plastic, wood or metal to serve to maintain the toilet seat 100 in the vertically higher position.

The source of electrical energy may take the form of one or more replaceable or rechargeable battery packs. Alternatively, the source of electrical energy may include a conventional electrical supply associated with the home or building in which the toilet seat 100 is utilized. When the user desires to be raised into the vertically higher position, the user simply activates the drive motor 140 to raise the toilet seat 100 and thus the user upwardly. The tilt of the toilet seat 100 assists the user to transfer the user's weight to their legs supporting the half-squatting position to let the user apply a pressure to the muscles of the bladder to easily squeeze urine out of the bladder.

Referring to FIG. 1A, additionally, the toilet seat 100 has a handle 240 attached to the toilet seat 100 for manually raising the toilet seat 100 into directly vertically above the toilet bowl 180. When the user desires to be raised into the vertically higher position, the user simply raises the rear portion of the toilet seat 100 by manually pulling the handle 240 upwardly.

The material from which the toilet seat 100 and the handle 240 are constructed is not critical and any of the commonly employed materials such as rubber, plastic, wood or metal or even resilient porous material where the pores extend through the toilet seat to provide ventilation can be used.

The toilet seat 100 disclosed herein enables the user to change its position in a half-squatting position such that the muscles of the bladder are relaxed, and the user can easily apply a pressure to the muscles of the bladder to squeeze urine out of the bladder.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat, comprising: a top surface to support the user's body; a bottom surface designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support; a lifter attached to the bottom surface for raising the toilet seat directly vertically above the toilet bowl and for tilting the toilet seat such that a rear portion of the toilet seat assumes a vertically higher position than front portion of the toilet seat while remaining above the toilet bowl, wherein the lifter is structured to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position; and a handle attached to the toilet seat for manually moving the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.
 2. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.
 3. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the top surface has a smoothly curved surface fitting the shape of the hips of a person.
 4. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the lifter comprises a gear assembly to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.
 5. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the lifter comprises a drive motor.
 6. The toilet seat according to claim 5, wherein the drive motor is reversible and cooperatively structured with the lifter to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.
 7. The toilet seat according to claim 5, wherein the drive motor is electrically powered and structured to move the seat into the vertically higher position when the drive motor is activated.
 8. The toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat is made of resilient porous material where the pores extend through the toilet seat to provide ventilation.
 9. A toilet seat, comprising: a top surface to support the user's body; a bottom surface designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support; and a support attached to the bottom surface in a downwardly forwards extending sloping position, wherein the support slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.
 10. The toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein the toilet seat slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.
 11. The toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein the top surface has a smoothly curved surface fitting the shape of the hips of a person.
 12. The toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein the toilet seat comprises a handle attached to the toilet seat for manually moving the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.
 13. The toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein the toilet seat is made of resilient porous material where the pores extend through the toilet seat to provide ventilation.
 14. The toilet seat according to claim 9, wherein the support is structured to maintain the toilet seat in the vertically higher position.
 15. A toilet seat, comprising: a top surface to support the user's body; a bottom surface designed to rest on a toilet bowl for support; a lifter attached to the bottom surface for raising the toilet seat directly vertically above the toilet bowl and for tilting the toilet seat such that a rear portion of the toilet seat assumes a vertically higher position than front portion of the toilet seat while remaining above the toilet bowl, wherein the lifter is structured to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position; and a gear assembly attached to the lifter, wherein the gear assembly is cooperatively structured with the lifter to move the toilet seat into the vertically higher position.
 16. The toilet seat according to claim 15, wherein the toilet seat slopes at an angle from 0° to 45°, inclusive.
 17. The toilet seat according to claim 15, wherein the top surface has a smoothly curved surface fitting the shape of the hips of a person.
 18. The toilet seat according to claim 15, wherein the lifter comprises a drive motor.
 19. The toilet seat according to claim 18, wherein the drive motor is electrically powered and cooperatively structured with the lifter to move the seat into the vertically higher position when the drive motor is activated.
 20. The toilet seat according to claim 15, wherein a handle is attached to the toilet seat for manually moving the toilet seat into the vertically higher position. 